Abstract
Hyperforin is a prenylated phloroglucinol present in the medicinal plant St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum). The compound has many biological properties, including antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antitumor activities. This review focuses on the in vitro antileukemic effects of purified hyperforin and related mechanisms in chronic lymphoid leukemia (CLL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) - conditions that are known for their resistance to chemotherapy. Hyperforin induces apoptosis in both CLL and AML cells. In AML cell lines and primary AML cells, hyperforin directly inhibits the kinase activity of the serine/threonine protein kinase B/AKT1, leading to activation of the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family protein Bad through its non-phosphorylation by AKT1. In primary CLL cells, hyperforin acts by stimulating the expression of the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member Noxa (possibly through the inhibition of proteasome activity). Other hyperforin targets include matrix metalloproteinase-2 in AML cells and vascular endothelial growth factor and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in CLL cells - two mediators of cell migration and angiogenesis. In summary, hyperforin targets molecules involved in signaling pathways that control leukemic cell proliferation, survival, apoptosis, migration and angiogenesis. Hyperforin also downregulates the expression of P-glycoprotein, a protein that is involved in the resistance of leukemia cells to chemotherapeutic agents. Lastly, native hyperforin and its stable derivatives show interesting in vivo properties in animal models. In view of their low toxicity, hyperforin and its derivatives are promising antileukemic agents and deserve further investigation in vivo.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Review
MeSH terms
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ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B
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ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / antagonists & inhibitors
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ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / genetics
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ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / metabolism
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Animals
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Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / adverse effects
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Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology*
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Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / therapeutic use
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Apoptosis / drug effects
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Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / drug effects
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Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
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Humans
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Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / drug therapy*
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Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / enzymology
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Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / metabolism
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Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / drug therapy*
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Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / enzymology
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Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / metabolism
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Leukocytes / drug effects
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Leukocytes / enzymology
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Leukocytes / metabolism
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Neoplasm Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
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Phloroglucinol / adverse effects
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Phloroglucinol / analogs & derivatives*
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Phloroglucinol / pharmacology
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Phloroglucinol / therapeutic use
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Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / drug effects
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Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / metabolism
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Protein Kinase Inhibitors / adverse effects
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Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
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Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / antagonists & inhibitors
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / biosynthesis
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / genetics
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / metabolism
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Signal Transduction / drug effects
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Terpenes / adverse effects
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Terpenes / pharmacology*
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Terpenes / therapeutic use
Substances
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ABCB1 protein, human
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ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B
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ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1
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Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
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Neoplasm Proteins
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PMAIP1 protein, human
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Protein Kinase Inhibitors
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
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Terpenes
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Phloroglucinol
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AKT1 protein, human
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
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Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex
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hyperforin